Lacing machine



pril 28, 959 Jj Foss. 2,883,687

LACING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23,' 1954 5 Sheetsvsheet 1 Inventor /48 Jbseph Fossa, /22 l By his Attorney April 2s, 1959 y J, POSSA 2,883,687

` LACING MACHINE Filed Reb. 25, 1954l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 In Ven tor 'l Jsep'z Fossa- By his Attorney J. vFOSSA LACING MACHINE April 28, 1959 5 sheets-sheet :s

Filed Feb. 25, 1954 ein Inventor L/Bseph Fossa By his Afzorney J. FOSSA LACING MACHINE April 28, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 25, 1954 his Azffme In ven tor Josep/'z FOSS cz By 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Joseph Tossa By his Attorney J. FOSSA LACING MACHINE April 28, 1959 Filed Feb. 25, 1954 to form a lacing in the irSt pair of eyelets.

LACING MACHINE lJoseph Fossa, Lynn, Mass., assignor to United ShoeMachlnery Corporation, Flemington, NJ., a corporation 'of New Jersey Application February23, 1954,.Serial No. 411,699

16 Claims. (Cl. 12-585) NUnited States Patent.

an eye lacing needle adapted lfor vertical reciprocating and transverse oscillating movements for the insertion of lacing loops alternately through the eyelets of successive l.eyelet pairs of an upper which is clamped in a predetermined `adjusted position on 1a workholder with the lacing .margins disposed ,lin an opened-out edge-to-edge relation. Cooperating with the lacing needle at the opposite side of the work is a looper mechanism consisting of a pair 'of looper hooks which are supported for rock-ing movementson a pivotal support which is also moved laterally wit-h 'each koscillatory movement of the needle, and an associated pair of loop spreaders movable-to -spread =the loops held on the looper hooks. The lacing mechanism loperates to insert groups of enchaned Alacing loops in y,suecessivepairs of eyelets from the-toertoward the ankle `end of the lacing slit.

The illustrated machine is .provided with a cord'end holding device and a cord cutter .for severing `the held .cord from the work, and with suitable cord guiding and tensioningv devices controlling the drawing off of the cord from the supply to the lacing mechanism of the p machine. These devices,` except as hereinafter specically set forth, may be similar to those shown in my earlier Patent No. 2,461,889, dated February l5, 1949 for Machine and Method For Manufacture of Shoes, and will therefore herein be described so far as necessary for-a vfull understanding of the present invention.

In machines of the general type herein `disclosed -a portion ofthe lacing cord extending between the needle and the work is held when the machine is stopped and the cord is severed close to the work. The cord lend holding device remains operative to hold the cord end during the formation of the first four stitches employed As the supported shoe upper is thereafter fed rearwardly -into the lacing machine for the insertion of lacings in adjacent pairs of eyelets, the cord end is gradually withdrawnfrom the holding device.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement of the cord end holding and cord cutter devices which ,makes possible the holding of a the needle and the work yprior to the moment at which the cutter is rendered operative to sever the clamped `cord from the work.

In accordance with a engaging a portion of the cord in'the cord end holding portion of the cord extending between I the invention the mechanism for y 2,883,137 Patented Apr'. 28, 1959 i ice .2 device and the mechanism for actuating the Icord` cutter are actuated by separate cam follower devices which are l'ocatedto be operated successively by means -of a sing'le camzrotating in timed-relation to the reciprocating'move- 'mentito the needle.

Itis a further object `of the invention to provide 'a novel and improved -arrangement of the cord end 'holding "and ucord clamping devices in a machine forlacing shoe uppers which is well adapted for reducing the 4length of the cord `end required for the -formation andvholding of the irst stitch to a measured short length. f

In laccordance with the invention there isfpr'ovided Vfor `supporting 'and for permitting a Ameasured 'withdrawal -.of the cord end from Aits initially engaged position a novel construction and arrangement of cord clamping devices which include -a cord clamping vdevice disposed to engage with and hold a portion of the cordfextending between thelacin'gmechanism and fthe supply. device isprovided also for controlling the operation of the thread vend holding device so that the cord y.end engaged lthere- -by maybe alternatively engaged by a heavy substantial locking clamping pressure, or lreleased to'permit 'a free withdrawal of the cord end through the holding device,

Ior held by ya medium holdin'glpressure which will Apermit the .gradual withdrawal ofthe cordend @as the supported upper is fed into 'the lacing machine.

Further in accordance with the invention mechanism is'provided for controlling the operation of theclamping devices, referred to, which is activated whenthe machine is lstopped, and which acts dur-ing the Aformation o'f the group 'of-four stitches forming the first lacing to control 'the operation of said cord yclamping and control `device 'to reduce to a desired short end thele'ngth ofcord left at the start of the new operation, andthereat`te'r l'to render said control mechanisminoperative.

With the above and other objectsin view as may-'hereinafter appear the several feature'sof 'the invention'consist also of the devices, combinations vand arrangement of parts which together with the advantages 'to 'b'e ob- `tained thereby will be readily understood `by one skilled in the art by the following description taken -in .connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 'y

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine -forvla'cing shoe uppers, the parts being shown in sto'p position, and 'onlyso much of the machine being shown asbeliev'ed necessary to illustrate the ,connection of the vinverition therewith;

Fig. 2'is'a detail View looking from the righto'f Fig. 1 illustrating particularly the cam and follower connections for operating the lacing cord clamping device;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the portions of the lacing machine shown in Fig. 1; v

lFig. 4 is an exploded Aisometric'v-iew of the #cord clamp control mechanism; 4

Fig. 5 is a somewhat fragmentary view illustrating vparticularly the lacing needle and the lacing cordvclamping and clamp control devices, the parts being shown -in the machine stop position of`Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail view, looking from the left, of the cord end holding device including the cord end clamping means as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but for a dilerent position of the parts in which the needle approaches the work for the formation of the irst stitch; l l

Fig. 8 is a detail view'looking from the left 'of the cord end holding device including the cord and clamping rmeans as shown in Fig. 7; y

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 7, the lneedle being shown through the work during the formation of vthe last lacing loop of a group of four passing through indicating the operation of the stop motion rock shaft in stopping to reset the cord clamp control mechanism; and

Fig. is a detail view looking from the left of the cord end holding device including the cord end clamping means as shown in Fig. 9.

The invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a lacing machine of which the lacing mechanism including the lacing needle and looper mechanisms, the work support, and work feeding devices are similar to corresponding mechanisms more fully described and illustrated in the patent to Fossa No. 2,461,889, dated February 15, 1949 for Machine and Method For Manufacture of Shoes.

The cord end holding device of the present invention is in some respects similar to and is intended as an improvement upon the cord end holding device described and claimed in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 737,661, tiled May 26, 1958 for Lace Clamping Device, which is a division of Serial No. 326,948, filed December 19, 1952 for improvements in a Machine For Operating Upon Shoe Uppers.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the illustrated machine for lacing shoe uppers comprises generally a casing 30 on which is carried an eye-pointed lacing needle 32, and a double looper mechanism generally designated at 33. The needle 32 is supported for vertical reciprocatory and lateral oscillatory movements for inserting loops of lacing cord alternately through the eyelets of a pair in a shoe upper which is supported on a workholder, not shown, with the lacing margins in an opened-out edgeto-edge relation beneath the level of the work. The double looper and spreader mechanism 33 comprises two oppositely facing hooks 34 and a cooperating pair of similarly shaped overlying spreaders 35 (see Figs. 1 and 9) adapted for engaging and spreading the engaged loops of the lacing cord. As shown in Fig. 1 the needle 32 is mounted on the lower end of a needle bar 36 supported for longitudinal movement in a frame 38 which is suspended for lateral swinging movements about a pivot provided by a rearwardly extending shaft 40 on the machine. The mechanism for imparting a lateral oscillatory movement to the frame 38 and for imparting a corresponding positioning movement to the looper mechanism 33 are not shown since these mechanisms are fully illustrated in the patent to Fossa, above referred to, and form specifically no part of the present invention. The needle 32 and the bar 36 are moved vertically by means of connections which include a crank arm 42 formed on the forward end of the main cam shaft of the machine which is connected by a link 44 and pivot pin 45 with a lever arm 46 arranged to turn about a fixed pivot 48 (Fig. 1). The lever arm 46 is connected by a link 50 with a needle driving lever 52 supported to turn about a fixed pivot 54. The lever arm 46 and link 50 act as a toggle connection which is straightened and then broken by the rotary motion of the crank so that the needle reciprocating lever 52 and needle 32 are caused to move rapidly to and from the downward eyelet penetrating position and to be held during a relatively extended dwell period in a raised stitch tightening position.

The needle is driven by the continuously reciprocating needle driving lever 52 through connections which are arranged to permit the needle to be disconnected from the driving lever, and thereby to render the lacing mechanism inoperative when so desired. These connections comprise a block 56 supported for movement vertically in the needle frame 38 and connected with the driving lever 52 to be continuously driven thereby by means of a link 57 (see Figs. 1 and 5). The block 56 is normally connected with the reciprocating needle bar and needle by means of a latch 58 which is pivotally supported on a stud 60 on a cross-head 61 secured to the needle bar 36 and provided in its lower position with an arcuate recess which engages with an arcuate segment 62 on the face of the driving block. The latch 58 is provided at its upper end with a notched portion 64 which is arranged for a fully retracted position of the needle 32 and needle bar 36 to be engaged by a pawl 66 formed on the forward end of a rock shaft 68 carried on an upper extension of the U-shaped supporting member 38. Assuming that the needle has been moved to the fully retracted position so that the pawl 66 is engaged with the latch 58, a rocking movement of the shaft 68 and pawl 66 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1 will act to rock the latch S8 in a counterclockwise direction, so that the arcuate slot therein is moved out of engagement with the arcuate segment 72 and into engagement with an arcuate segment 62 formed on the face of the needle carrier frame 38, thus disconnecting the needle and needle bar from the reciprocating needle drive block 56, and at the same time latching the needle carrier frame in a retracted inoperative position. The shaft 68 and pawl 66 are rocked in the manner above described to render the needle inoperative particularly during the first lace forming cycle of the machine when it is desired to omit the lacing from the first pair of eyelets of the upper. Any further description of the control mechanism employed for actuating the needle throw-out pawl 66 is omitted for the reason that this mechanism forms specifically no part of the invention and is fully described and illustrated in the patent to Fossa No. 2,461,889, above referred t-o.

As previously noted the needle is adapted to cooperate with a double looper and spreader mechanism 33 which comprises a pair of opposed looper hooks 34 and associated spreader aims 35 which are given oscillatory movements in timed relation to the needle frame 38 and needle 32. The double looper and spreader mechanism is similar to that illustrated and described in the Fossa Patent No. 2,461,889 to which reference may be had for a full description of these parts.

The lacing machine specifically illustrated herein is also provided with a work feed mechanism which comprises a workholder actuating feed slide including a hook adapted to be engaged with a workholder on which the shoe upper is supported through the lacing margin in an opened-out edge-to-edge relation. The feed slide comprises a bracket 82 and a slide rod 84 which are generally indicated in Fig. 1. The feed slide is given a stepped feeding movement carrying with it the workholder, following each successive cycle of four stitches inserted by the needle 32. Since the feed slide referred to is similar to that shown in the Fossa Patent No. 2,461,889, above referred to, it is believed unnecessary to further describe that mechanism herein.

Lacing cord is supplied to the needle 32 from a cop mounted in a container 86 on the machine (see Figs. 1 and 3), and is drawn past suitable guides and controls similar to those illustrated in the Fossa Patent No. 2,461,889 including a tension device 88, and thence passes downwardly through an upper thread clamp hereinafter to be described comprising a stationary jaw 90, and a movable jaw 92. The cord then passes around a stationary pin 94 associated with a spring mounted auxiliary takeup device 96, and thence passes downwardly through suitable guides through the eye of the needle 32.

As shown in the drawings, Figs. 5-10, inclusive, my improved cord end holding device comprises a swinging arm 96 mounted at its upper end on a transversely disposed rock shaft 98, carried on a support 100 forming part of the machine frame. The arm 96 is formed with an oliset holding element 101 having a transverse V- shaped edge to engage the cord, and a transverse groove which is formed in the upper face of the offset holding element 101 to be engaged by a vertically disposed and vertically movable holding plate 102. The plate 102 is mounted on the lower end of a plunger 104 which is slidably mounted in the support 100, and is spring pressed downwardly by a `compression spring 106 seated in a recess formed in the plunger 104. When the machine 'is stopped, the swinging arm '96 is kretracted against the pressure of Aits spring106 into a position Arearwardly of a downwardly extending portion of the cord, and is then released to engage the cord in the V-shaped notch in the edge of the holding element 101, and to move the cord into held position between the offset holding element 101 and cooperating plate l102. This operation is performed substantially in the `manner set forth in applicants co-,pending application, Serial No. 326,948, filed December 19, 1952 for Machine For Operating Upon Shoe Uppers, by means of a forwardly extending cord holding actuating bar 110 which passes through a window 1712 formed in an upwardly extending plate 114 on a lever arm 115 secured to the opposite end of the rock shaft 98 from which the swinging arm 96 is connected. A notch 116 formed in the under surface of the bar 110 engages a lug 117 formed on the lever 115 to swing the arm 96 rearwardly, and is then released therefrom by a stop 118 with the continued forward movement of the arm so that the cord holding arm 96 is permitted to swing downwardly under the inuence of a tension spring 119 attached to the lever arm 115 to vengage with and hold the cord. In the illustrated form of the device, as shown in Fig. 2, the cord holding actuating bar 110 is pivotally connected to a lever 120 for lateral swinging movements relative thereto. The lever 120 is pivotally connected at 121 to the lower end of an actuating lever 122 loosely sleeved to turn on a transversely extending cord cutter actuating shaft 123 as hereinafter more fully set forth. A spring 124 connected to a tail of the lever 120 tends to swing the lever 120 and cord holding actuating bar 110 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, or clockwise as viewed in Figs. 6, 8 and 10 tobias the bar 110 downwardly.

yIn the form of the cord holding device illustrated in the Fossa application, above referred to, there is also provided a pusher bar 132 which, as shown in Fig. 1, is connected at its rear end to the lower end of the actuating'lever 122, and is guided toward its forward end in an aperture formed in a bracket 133 secured to the underside of the support 100. The pusher bar is advanced with the cord holding actuating bar 110 and operates to engage with and position the downwardly extending cord end for engagement with the V-shaped notch in the offset cord holding element 101.

A feature of the present invention consists in an improved construction and arrangement of the cord holding and severing mechanism which includes the provision of separate follower mechanisms actuated by the cam 128 upon stopping the machine rst to effect the holding of the cord extending from the needle to the work, an-d thereafter to sever the clamped cord from the work. The cord severing mechanism is operated by the rocking of lthe cord cutter actuating shaft 123, above referred to. An upwardly extending cutter actuating cam follower lever l134 slidably supported on the cutter actuating shaft .123 adjacent the clamp actuating lever 122, 125 is provided at its upper end with a follower roller 135 which is adapted to engage a portion of the follower cam 128 immediately below the roller 126 so that the cutter actuating cam follower lever 134 is actuated by the rotating cam 128 in point of time after said cam has actuated the clamp actuating lever 125. The cutter actuating follower lever k134 is keyed to turn with the shaft 123 by means of a pin 136 which passes through an aperture in a downward lextension of the lever 134 and is .secured to a short downwardly extending arm 137 pinned to the rock shaft 123.

The connections rendered operative by the rocking of the shaft 123 `to sever the lacing cord comprise a lever arm 138 which is xedly secured to the left hand end of the rock shaft 123 and is connected by a link 139 with a lever arm 140 which is in turn connected by a link i141 with the tail of an oscillatable cutter 142 supported to turn on la vertical pivot 143 '(see Fig. 1). VSince the 'Y gemas@ cord cutter actuating mechanism above referred to, yin connection with Fig. 1 is particularly illustrated 'in my Patent No. 2,461,889, no further reference thereto is ',believed necessary.

In accordance with the disclosure of the FossaPatent No. 2,461,889, the cord cutting and cord end holding Vmechanism is adapted to be rendered operative whenrthe machine is stopped by a rocking movement imparted a stop motion rock shaft 144. This shaft in stopping the machine is rocked in a clockwise direction from the solid line position to the dotted line position shown specifically in Fig. 9, and as shown in solid lines for example in Fig. l. Subsequently, when the machine is started the ,shaft 144 is returned counterclockwise to the solidline position of Fig. 9. The clockwise rocking movement. of shaft 144 in stopping the machine causes a depending arm 145, operatively connected at its lower end with a block 146 secured to the cutter actuating follower lever 134, to -be moved to the left (as seen in Fig. 1) carrying with it'the cutter actuating follower lever 134 and the cord holding actuating follower lever 122, 125, so that the follower rollers 135 and 126 will be moved into the path of a rise portion of the rotating cam 128. The cord holding actuating follower lever 122, is caused to moveto the left with the block 146 and cutter follower lever 134 by means of a large headed pin 147 which passes through an arcuate slot 148 in the lever 122, and at its inner end is secured to the block 146. Continued rotation lof the main cam shaft with disk and cam 128, beforethe machine comes to a standstill, causes the cord holding actuating lever 122, 125 to be rocked clockwise to the position shown, for example, in Fig. 2 to elfe'ct'the'operation of the cord holding mechanism to hold the cord, and immediately thereafter the continued advance "of the cam 128 causes the cord cutter follower lever 134 to be rocked, thus actuating the cutter knife 142 to sever the held cord. A rocking movement of the stop motion rock shaft 144 in a clockwise direction, i.e. from the dotted to the solid line position in Fig. 9, in starting the machine, causes the depending arm andthe cutter actuating follower lever 134 and cord holding actuating lever 122, 125 to be moved out of the path of -the face cam 128.

Inl accordance with the present invention means are provided for improving the efficiency of the cordcutter and cord end holding mechanism which will operate upon stopping the machine to hold a portion of the cord extending between the needle and the work, :and to sever the held end close to the work and when the machine is again started to reduce to a minimum length the severed cord end held by the cord end holding device during the formation of the new lacing. The devices provided for controlling the operation of the cutter and cordl end 'holding mechanism include a device for varying the pressure exerted by the cord end holding device, a-cord clamp arranged to act on a portion of the cord extending v'from the supply to the lacing mechanism, and a timing device which controls the operation of the clamp and cord end holding device upon stopping the machine, and during the operation of the machine to form a first groupof four laces, to hold and thereafter toreduce to a desired short end the length of the cord left at the start of ythe new lacing operation.

The cord end holding device, including theswinging arm 96, the offset cord holding element 101, and the downwardly biased cord holding plate 102, is arranged to be acted upon by means of an auxiliary control device comprising a vertically disposed control link 150 having a pin and slot connection 152 with the plate k102 so that the cord holding action of the plate 102 against the -cord end may be controlled by the vertical movement-s imparted to the link 150. The link 150 is pivotallytconnected at 154, at its upper end, to one arm of ahorizontally disposed lever 156 supported intermediate -itS length to turnon apivot 158mm a xedhracket ,160,

heavy tension spring 162, connected at its lower arm to the lever arm 156, tends to rotate the arm about its pivot clockwise to bias the link 150 and cord end holding plate 102 downwardly against the anvil support provided by cord holding element 110 so that the cord end will be engaged under heavy pressure to prevent the drawing of the cord end through the cord end holding device. This is the position of the parts as specically shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. The lever arm 156 is connected at its left end by means of an upwardly extended link 164 with a cam actuated clamp control lever 166 which forms part of the clamp control hereinafter to be more fully described. For an intermediate position of the control link 150, as shown for example in Figs. 9 and 10, the link 150 has been moved upwardly to an intermediate position in which the cord end holding plate 102 is free to move under the iniiuence of its spring 106 which acts to bias the plate 102 against the engaged cord and anvil support 101 under a relatively light pressure. A third alternative position of the control link 150 is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, in which the link 150 has been moved positively upwardly to an extreme high position in which the pin and slot connection 152 is operative to positively withdraw the cord end holding plate 102 from engagement.

with its anvil support 102 to permit the free withdrawal of the cord end from the cord end holding device.

The clamp control lever 166, in addition to controlling the operation of the cord end holding device through control link 150 as above described, is also connected to control the operation of the supply cord clamp consisting of the stationary jaw 90 and movable jaw 92, above referred to. As shown for example in Fig. 5, the movable clamping jaw 92 takes the form of an upwardly extending hook-shaped projection of a horizontally disposed lever 170 supported to turn on a pivot 172. The lever 170 is connected to the cam actuated clamp control lever 166 by means of a yieldably extensible connection which includes a tension spring 174 (see Fig. 5) connected between the lever 170 and control lever 166, and a sleeve member 178 which is pivotally connected at its lower end at 180 to the clamp actuated lever 166, and at its other end is connected by means of a cross pin 182 in the lever 170 with an open-ended slot 184 in the upper end of the sleeve member 178. The arrangement of these parts is such that an upward movement of the clamp control lever 166 will operate positively to open the clamp jaw 92, whereas a downward movement of the clamp lever 166 will operate through spring 174 to yieldably close the clamping jaw 92 against the xture 90.

The clamp control lever 166 is actuated by means of a cam 186 to which is imparted a series of stepped advancing movements at the start of each lacing operation upon a new shoe upper. The cam 186 forms part of a cord holding and clamping control assembly which includes, in addition to the cam 186, a timing ratchet 188 provided with a sleeve hub 190 (see Fig. 4) on which the timing ratchet is secured together with a spacer disk 192. A friction drum 194 is secured to the outer face of the cam 186 and is engaged by a friction material lined brake band 196 which is formed with a loop 198 extending around pivot shaft 54 to prevent turning of the friction band, and has its free ends connected together by means of a spring seated pin 200. The elements of the cord clamping and holding control assembly, above described, are loosely sleeved to turn on a needle bar actuated rock shaft 202. A second spacer disk 204 is mounted on the rock shaft 202 between the ratchet 188 and a pawl actuating cam 206 secured to the rock shaft 196. The cam 206 is arranged to act against a horizontally disposed pawl lever 208 loosely mounted to turn on the pivot shaft 54 and at its right hand end said lever is provided with an upwardly extending pawl 210 adapted for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 188. A tension spring 212 (see Figs. 5, 7 and 9), connected at its lower end to the outer extremity of pawl lever 208, and at its upper extremity to a horizontally disposed cord clamping and holding control assembly starting pawl 214, hereinafter to be more fully described, acts to maintain the pawl lever 208 in a raised position in engagement with the underside of the ratchet pawl actuating cam 206.

As more specifically set forth in the Fossa Patent 2,461,889, above referred to, a lever arm 218 iixedly secured to the rock shaft 202, is connected by a link 220 with the needle cross head 61 so that as a result of the reciprocation of said needle cross head an oscillatory movement is imparted to the rock shaft 202, and to the pawl actuating cam 206 secured to the rock shaft with each reciprocation of the lacing needle 32. As will be evident from an inspection of the drawings, each fourth tooth of the ratchet 188 is formed with a land portion 222 so arranged that the reciprocating movement of the pawl 210 actuated through lever 208 by the oscillating cam 206 causes the ratchet 188 and cam 186, secured thereto, to be advanced four successive steps and thereafter to be stopped as the pawl 210 rides onto the next succeeding land portion 222.

The cam 186 is shaped to provide sectors which correspond with each series of four teeth of the ratchet. With the first step imparted to the ratchet and associated cam when thrown into operation the clamp control lever 166 is moved sharply upwardly as the follower 167 rides ott a high portion of the cam sector proximate thereto. Figs. 5 and 7 respectively illustrate the position of the clamp control lever 166 at the beginning and at the end of this rst stepped movement of the ratchet and cam. During the three successive stepped movements imparted to the ratchet 188 and cam 186, the clamp control lever 166 is again moved gradually downwardly until at the end of the fourth step it will have been moved somewhat more than half of the distance downwardly to the position specifically shown in Fig. 9.

The ratchet 188 and cam 186 is reset by the operation of the machine stop motion when the machine is stopped, so that the stepped advance of the ratchet 188 and associated cam 186 will start with the rst reciprocation of the needle to form a new lacing. To this end the starting pawl 214, above mentioned, is provided which at one end engages against the teeth of the ratchet 188, and at its other end is pivotally connected at 224 to the upper end of a lever 226 secured to the forward end of the stop motion rock shaft 144 of the machine. As pointed out in the Fossa Patent 2,461,889, above referred to, the stop motion rock shaft 144 is rocked in a clockwise direction upon stopping the machine and is then returned in a counterclockwise direction to its initial starting position when the machine is again started. During the clockwise movement of the stop motion rock shaft 144 in stopping, the hook formed on the end of pawl 214 becomes engaged with an advances the ratchet 188 suliiciently to move the pawl 210 olf of the dwell portion 222.

At the beginning of the next lacing operation and more particularly when the reciprocation of the lacing needle starts, the reciprocating movement of the pawl 210 induced by the oscillatory movement of the work shaft 202 causes the ratchet 188 and associated cam 186 to have imparted thereto four stepped advancing movements as above described.

The operation of the cord holding and severing mechanism, above referred to, will be more specically described as follows:

Upon completion of the lacing operation upon a shoe upper the machine stop motion operates to stop the machine with the lacing needle in a withdrawn position. One of the operations which takes place at this time is a rocking of the so-called stop motion shaft 144 in a clockwise direction, which is shown by the movement of the upwardly extending lever arm 226 from a solid agac? 'to the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 9. It will be understood that the operation of the stop motion, including the rocking movements imparted lto the stop motion shaft 144 both in stopping and subsequently in starting the machine, corresponds with the construction and mode of operation of the stop motion in the Fossa Patent 2,461,889 and will therefore not be here further described.

The clockwise rocking motion of the shaft 144 in stopping the machine causes depending arm 145, iixedly secured thereto, to be shifted inwardly to the left (as seen in Fig. l) so that the follower roll 126 for effecting the holding of the cord, and follower roll 135 for effecting the severing of the held cord from the work, are moved into the path of rotating cam 128 on disk 130 mounted on the main cam shaft of the machine. The disk 130 and cam 128 are brought to a stop in the position shown in Fig. 2, the roll 126 having been first engaged with the rise portion of cam 128 to rock the cord holding and actuating lever 122, 125 to impart a swinging movement to the arm 96 and offset cord holding element 101 first rearwardly (as seen in Fig. l) and then, after the highest part of cam 128 has passed beyond roll 126, forwardly to engage with and hold the cord between the cord holding element 101 and spring pressed Icord holding plate 102. The rocking of the cord holding and actuating lever 122, 125 acts through arm 110, notch 116 in upwardly extending arm 114 and rock shaft 98 to impart the swinging movement referred to to the arm 96. After the cord is held the rise portion of the cam 128 just before the rotation thereof completely ceases contacts follower roller 135 thereby causing lever 134 and shaft 123 to be rocked to actuate lever 138 and the cord cutting knife 142.

'Ihe rocking movement imparted to the stop motion shaft 144 is employed also to render the ratchet 188 and cam 186 operative. A rocking movement of these parts including an upwardly extending lever 226 and pawl 214 from the solid to the dotted line position shown in AFig. 9 is effected by shaft 144 to cause the pawl engag` ing a tooth of the ratchet 188 to turn the ratchet sufficiently so that pawl 210 becomes positioned beyond the land portion 222 and moves into the tooth engaging position. The preliminary movement of the ratchet 188 and cam 186 above described has the further effect of' moving the follower portion 167 of the cam -actuated clamp control lever 166 from the position shown in Fig. 9 to its extreme down position as shown in Fig. 5 in which position the control link 150 has been moved upwardly to engage with the cord holding plate 102 and release it from engagement with the severed cord end and the cord holding element 101. This downward movement of the pawl actuated clamp control lever 166 also acts through the extensible connection provided by the spring 174 to swing the clamp lever 170 in a counterclockwise direction to engage clamping jaws 90 and 92,

vand thus to clamp that portion of the cord leading from the supply. In this stop postion of the machine a relatively long end of the severed cord is left projecting through the holding device as shown in Fig. 6.

When the machine is now started the return rocking movement of the stop motion shaft 144 in a counterclockwise direction causes the pawl 214 to move to the left to a reset solid line position as shown in Fig. 9, and at the same time causes the downwardly extending lever arm 145 to move to the right shifting the cam follower lever 134 and roll 135 together with cam follower lever 122, 125 and follower roll 126 positively to the right out of alignment with the face cam 128.

With the first downward movement of the needle 32 and needle bar 36 caused by clockwise movement of lever 52 to form a lacing through .an eyelet pair of a supported upper in the machine a clockwise oscillatory movement is imparted to the .shaft 202 and pawl actuat- "ing cam 206, so vthat the pawl 210 is rendered operative i v10 `to impart astepp'e'd v`advancing movement yto the ratchet 188 and -cam '186 `for eachof the lfirst four reciprocations imparted tothe needle in forming a lacing through the lirst pair of eyelets. The operation of these `parts Iis so related and dimensioned that the follower portion of the cam actuated clamp control lever 166 rides off the high portion of its cam sector, and the lever 166 moves immediately upwardly toits extreme position when the needle has descendedy duringthe first of these four reciprocations through ythe work a suicient distance so that the cord end has been vreduced to substantially a desired length -(see Fig. 8). 'This movement of the cam actuated clamp controllever 166 has the effect, first of rocking lever 156 and of moving the control link 150 downwardly so that 4the holding `plate 102 lis forced downwardly under heavy engaging pressure against the cord held upon `the -olset cord vholding element 101. At the same time the 1ower*"end of slot 184 in sleeve 178 engages pin 1-82 and carn'follower lever 170 is rocked in a clockwise "direction to disengage the clamping jaws v90, and 92 so that lthe cord may be drawn freely from the supply.

During succeeding `needle reciprocations of the series in the formation of a lacing through a iirst pair of eyelets, the cam actuated clamp-control lever 166 is moved gradually down thus reducing v'the pressure exerted on the cord en-d by the cordend holding plate 102 which is now free to adjust itself under the inuence of its spring 106.

At the end ofthe first lacing cycle of four stitches the pawl 210 will -have moved lonto the dwell portion 222 of a fourth ratchet tooth thus rendering the cord pressure control assembly inoperative. For this inoperative yposition of vthe control "mechanism `it will `be understood that the-pawl 21'0 continues its'oscillatory movement throughout the lentire "period vthat the lacing machine is running, being actuated by' the continued oscillatory movement of cam 206 'andro-ck shaft 202 which are connected by arm218-'and link 220 with the vertically reciprocating need-le bar. zThe control mechanism remains inoperative duringthe continued operation of the machine to lace "successive pairs of eyelets of the shoe upper and until the control-"shaft 144 is again rocked in the manner previously described when the machine is stopped. The position of the rparts at the completion of the first lacing cycle of four stitches is specifically shown in Fig. 9 in which it will `be noted that the follower 167 is located adjacent tothe high portion of its cam sector so that the cam actuated clamp control lever 166 is relatively, lbut not lfully,"^depressed. It will be noted thatthe supply cord clamp jaws 90, 92 remain open and the control link occupies an intermediate position in whch the pin and slot connection 152 is inoperative lto interfere with thefengagement of the cord end holding plate 102 of the cord end holding device under the influence of ritsvspring 106. As the supported shoe upper is subsequently advanced into the lacing machine to position the needle for thelacing of succeeding pairs of eyelets, the shortened cord end'will be gradually withdrawn from the cord end "holding device.

The invention having been described what is claimed 1. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism `including an eye lacing needle and a looper mechanism operable to insert groups of enchained loops through ieyelet pairs presented successively thereto, a cord supply source, a supply cord clamping device for clamping aportion of the cord between the supply and lacing mechanism, a 'cord end holding device, means acting when the machine is started to maintain said supply cord yclamping device closed to clamp the supply cord 'and to maintain said cord end holding device yopen to release the cord thereby causing cord to be drawn'through said holding device to shorten said "cord end, said means acting with relation to therst `llll loop drawing stroke of the needle to open the supply cord clamping device and to close the cord end holding device and thereby to hold said shortened cord end in said holding device.

2. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle and a looper mechanism operable to insert groups of enchained loops through eyelet pairs presented successively thereto, a cord supply source, a supply cord clamping device for clamping a portion of the cord between the supply and lacing mechanism, a cord end holding device, and means operative upon stopping the machine for actuating the supply cord clamping device to clamp the cord and for actuating the cord end holding device to release the cord end, and operative when the machine is started and acting with relation to the first loop drawing needle stroke to permit the cord to be drawn through the holding device to shorten the cord end and thereafter to release the supply cord clamping device and to apply the cord end holding device.

3. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle and a looper mechanism operable to insert groups of enchained loops through eyelet pairs presented successively thereto, a cord supply source, a supply cord clamping device for clamping a portion of the cord between the supply and lacing mechanism, a cord end holding device comprising means for applying selectively a light and a heavy pressure against the cord, and means acting when the machine is started to maintain said supply cord clamping device closed to clamp the supply cord and to fully release the cord end holding device thereby causing cord to be drawn through said holding device to shorten said cord end, said means acting with relation to the rst loop drawing stroke of the needle to open the supply cord clamping device and to close said cord end holding device with a heavy cord engaging pressure and thereby to hold said shortened cord end in said holding device, and acting thereafter to reduce the cord end holding engaging pressure to a light engaging pressure.

4. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers -having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle and a looper mechanism operable to insert groups of enchained loops through eyeleted pairs presented successively thereto, the combination of a cord supply source, a supply cord clamping device for clamping a portion of the cord between the supply and lacing mechanism, a cord end holding device comprising means for applying selectively a light and a heavy pressure against the cord, means operative when the machine is stopped tfor actuating the supply tcord clamping device to clamp the cord and for actuating the cord end holding device to release both said light and heavy pressures against the cord end, said means .being controlled by the rst loop drawing stroke of the needle for inserting a `group of enchained loops to permit cord to be drawn through said holding device to shorten said cord end, and thereafter to release the supply `cord clamping device and to apply a heavy pressure against the cord end, and further operative during the insertion of said group of enchained loops to reduce the engaging pressure on ythe cord end.

5. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including a reciprocatory eye lacing needle and a looper mechanism operable to insert groups of enchained loops through eyeleted pairs presented successively thereto, the combination of a cord supply source, a supply `cord `clatmping device for clamping a portion of the cord between the supply and the lacing mechanism, a lcord end holding device, a counting device having a plurality of steps, means operative upon stopping the machine to impart a stepped advance to the counting device, means acting when the lacing operation is started to impart a further stepped movement to the counting device with each of a series of reciprocations of the lacing needle, and means actuated by said stepped an ia?,

advance of the counting device upon stopping the machine to actuate the cord supply clamping device to clamp the cord and to actuate the cord end holding device to release the `cord end, and actuated by a further stepped advance of the counting device upon vthe rst loop drawing stroke of the needle to release the tcord supply 'clamp and to apply the cord end holding device.

6. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including a reciprocatory lacing needle and a looper mechanism operable to insert groups of enchained loops through eyeleted pairs presented successively thereto, the combination of a cord supply source, a supply cord clamping device for clamping a portion of the cord between the supply and the lacing mechanism, a cord end holding device comprising means 'for applying selectively a light and a heavy engaging pressure against the cord, a counting device having a series of steps, means operative upon stopping the machine to impart a stepped advance to the counting de- Yvice, means to impart a turther stepped movement to the counting device with each of a series of needle reciprocations to insert an initial group of enchained loops, means actuated by said stepped advance of the counting device upon stopping the machine to actuate the cord supply clamping device to clamp the `cord and to actuate the cord end holding device fully to release the cord, and said means being actuated by a further stepped advance of the counting device upon the first loop drawing stroke of the needle to release the cord supply clamp and to apply the cord end holding device with a heavy engaging pressure, said means being further actuated by said further stepped movements of the 'counting device to reduce the cord end clamping engaging pressure.

7. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including a reciprocatory eye lacing needle and a looper mechanism operable to insert groups of enchained loops through eyeleted pairs presented successively thereto, the combination of a cord supply source, a supply cord clamping device for clamping a portion of the cord between the supply and lacing mechanisrn, a cord end holding device `comprising means for applying selectively a light and a heavy engaging pressure against the cord, a counting device comprising a ratchet having the teeth arranged to provide in sequence groups of teeth each followed by a dwell surface, a tooth engaging pawl connected to be reciprocated with the needle for advancing the ratchet to a rest position determined by engagement of the pawl with a dwell surface, a starting pawl operative when the machine is stopped to rotate said ratchet to move the dwell surface past the tooth engaging pawl, a `cam secured to turn with the ratchet and cam follower connections rendered operative by the rotational movement of the ratchet and cam upon stopping the machine to engage the supply clamp and to fully release the end clamp, by a next stepped movement of the ratchet and cam upon starting the machine to release the cord supply clamp and to apply a heavy pressure upon the cord end holding device, and by further stepping movements olf the counting device to reduce said pressure.

8. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers operable in accordance with a recurring rcycle for the insertion of groups of enchained loops through successive pairs of eyelets, said machine having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle arranged to be inserted through the eyelets of a pair, and a looper mechanism cooperating therewith, the combination of a cord end `clamping device comprising means for applying selectively a light and a heavy pressure against the cord, and a control device for said clamp operative when the machine is started to release the cord end holding device permitting a portion of said end to be drawn through the clamp, and operative with relation to the initial and succeeding loop drawing strokes of lthe needle to apply said heavy pressure when the cord end has been reduced, and further I3 operative after the insertion of a plurality olf enchained loops to reduce said pressure.

9. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers operable in accordance with a recurring cycle for Ithe insertion of groups of enchained loops through successive pairsof eyelets, said machine having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle arranged to be inserted through the eyelets of a pair, and a looper mechanism cooperating therewith, the combination of a cord end holding device comprising means for applying selectively a light and a heavy pressure against the cord, and a control device for said pressure applying means comprising means operative when the machine is stopped to wholly release the cord end holding fdevice and operative with relation to the initial and succeeding loop drawing strokes of the needle for inserting a first group of enchained loops to engage the cord end holding Vdevice at a heavy pressure when the cord end has been reduced, and during the insertion of said initial group of enchained loops toy reduce said pressure.

10. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers operable in accordance with a recurring cycle for the insertion of groups of enchained loops to successive pairs of said eyelets, said machine having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle arranged to be inserted through the eyelets of a pair and a looper mechanism cooperating therewith, the combination of a cord end holding device comprising an arm arranged to turn about an axis on the machine and having at its outer end an offset cord engaging and clamping element, a cooperating clamping element having a limited movement in a direction generally outwardly from said axis for engagement with said offset clamping element, means for moving said cooperating element outwardly selectively under a light and a heavy pressure against said offset plate, and a control device operative when the machine is stopped for moving said cooperating element to wholly release the cord end holding device and timed with the initial loop drawing stroke of the needle to engage the cord end holding device at a heavy pressure when the cord end has been reduced, and during following loop drawing strokes of the needle to reduce said pressure.

ll. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle arranged to be inserted through the eyelets of a pair and a looper mechanism cooperating therewith, the combination of a cord end holding device comprising an arm supported to turn about an axis on the machine and having at its outer end an offset cord engaging and clamping element, a cooperating clamping element having a limited movement outwardly from said axis into the path of said olset element for clamping engagement therewith, a device exerting a light pressure upon said cooperating element outwardly, a separate device movable to engage and to exert a heavy pressure upon said cooperating element outwardly and movable in an opposite direction to engage and move said cooperating element inwardly away from said offset element, and a control device moving said heavy pressure exerting device to three alternative positions including an extended position to apply said heavy pressure, an intermediate position in which the heavy pressure is withdrawn and said cooperating element is engaged under a relatively light pressure, and a withdrawn position in which said cooperating element is positively retracted from engagement with said offset clamping element.

12. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle arranged to be inserted through the eyelets of a pair, and a looper mechanism cooperating therewith, the combination of a cord end holding device comprising an arm supported to turn about an axis on the machine and having at its outer end an offset cord engaging and clamping element, a cooperating clamping element having a limited movement outwardly from said axis into the path of said olset element for clamping engagement therewith, means` biasing said cooperating clamping element outwardly under a light pressure, a control element having a lost motion connection with said cooperating clampingl element, means biasing said control element and cooperating clamping element therewith in said outward direction under a heavy pressure, and control means for saidcontrol element having a release position in which the control element is permitted to engage the cooperating clamping element against said offset clamping element under heavy pressure, an intermediate position in which the cooperating clamping element is permitted by said lost motion connection to engage the offset clamping element under light pressure, and a fully retracted 'position in which the control element positively retracts the cooperating clamping element from engagement with the offset clamping element.

13. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle arranged to be inserted through the eyelets of a pair, and a looper mechanism cooperating therewith, the combination of a cord end holding device comprising an arm supported to turn about an axis on the machine. and having at its outer end an offset cord engaging and clamping element, a cooperating clamping element having a limited movement outwardly from said axis into the path of said offset element for clamping engagement therewith, means biasing said cooperating clamping element outwardly under a light pressure, a control clement having a lost motion connection with said cooperating clamping element, means biasing said control element and cooperating clamping element therewith in said outward direction under a heavy pressure, and cam and follower connections timed with the needle to shift the control element from a fully retracted position in which the cooperating clamping element is positively retracted from engagement with the offset clamping element during the first needle inserting movement to a release position in which the control element engages the cooperating clamping element against the offset clamping element under heavy pressure, and during subsequent inserting movements is partially retracted to permit the cooperating clamping element moving independently of the control element within the scope of said lost motion connection to engage the offset clamping element under light pressure.

14. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle arranged to be inserted through the eyelets of a pair and a looper mechanism cooperating therewith, the combination of a cord end holding device comprising cooperating clamping elements, relatively movable to engage and to position a portion of the oord extending between the needle and the work in the cord end holding device, a cord cutter device for cutting the held cord adjacent the work, a needle actuating mechanism including a rotating crank shaft, a cam supported to turn on said shaft, and separate cam follower devices arranged to be engaged successively by said cam to actuate said cord end holding device and thereafter to actuate the cord cutter device to hold and thereafter to sever the cord, and means operative in stopping the machine to position said cam follower devices in the path of said cam.

l5. In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle arranged to be inserted through the eyelets of a pair and a looper mechanism cooperating therewith, the cornbination of a cord end holding device comprising cooperating clamping elements relatively movable to engage and position a portion of the cord extending between the needle and the work in the cord end holding device, a cord cutter device for cutting the held cord adjacent the work, a needle actuating mechanism including a rotating crank shaft, a ca m supported to turn with said shaft, a cam follower lever and connections therefrom for actuating the cord end holding device, a separate cam follower lever and connections therefrom tothe cord cutter device operable to sever the cord, said follower levers being arranged to be engaged successively by said cam to render the cord holding device operable in advance of the cord cutter device, and a shifting device actuated upon stopping the machine to shift said follower levers into the path of the cam, and operable in starting the machine to shift said follower levers away from the path of the cam.

16, In a lacing machine for lacing eyeleted shoe uppers having a lacing mechanism including an eye lacing needle and a looper mechanism operable to insert groups of enchained loops through eyeleted pairs presented successively thereto, the combination of a cord supply source, a supply cord clamping device for clamping a portion of the cord between the supply and lacing mechanism, a cord end holding device comprising cooperating clamping elements relatively movable to engage and position a portion of the cord extending between the needle and the work in the oord end holding device, control means for exerting a variable pressure between said clamping elements and for releasing said pressure, a cord cutter device for cutting the held cord adjacent the work, a

needle actuating mechanism including a rotating shaft,.

a camsupported to turn with said shaft, cam follower connections including means shiftable into the path of said cam for actuating the respective cord end holding,

cooperating clamping elements, and operative during.

subsequent needle inserting movements to reduce said pressure, and a shifting device actuated upon stopping the machine to render said control device operative, and to shift said follower connections into the path of the cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,030,935 Smith July 2, 1912y 2,461,889

Fossa Feb. 15, 1949 

